X-Factor contestant and model Brad Howard has landed a plumb job rivalling Freddie Flintoff as the face of fashion brand Jacamo
X-Factor contestant and model Brad Howard has landed a plumb job rivalling Freddie Flintoff as the face of fashion brand Jacamo.
Brad, 30, former boyfriend of Michelle Keegan and the man who asked Nicole Scherzinger for her telephone number during his live X-Factor audition, has just been named the Face of the fashion brand’s Spring Summer 2018 Campaign.
He joked that Freddie, 40, who has been with the brand for six years, has nothing to fear from his younger rival saying: ‘Freddie – he’s about seven foot tall isn’t he? I think there are plenty of clothes to go round for both of us – I mean I am never going to fit into his outfits. I look forward to meeting him and I am just delighted to be working with Jacamo.’
The handsome six feet tall model, from Salford, Manchester, who had a three year relationship with actress Keegan, chatted to MailOnline during a London fashion shoot and revealed he will not be turning his back on music after his X-Factor stint. He is about to release his first single and already he’s among the favourites for a Christmas Number One with Paddy Power recently offering odds of 33/1.
He explained: ‘A producer I know who has worked with Tinie Tempah got in touch after seeing me on X-Factor and asked me into the studio. I have recorded four songs with him and narrowed it down to one of two to release for Christmas, either an R&B track Someone, or a ballad entitled, Takes Two.
Brad, 30, has just been named the Face of the fashion brand’s Spring Summer 2018 Campaign
Brad is former boyfriend of Michelle Keegan and the man who asked Nicole Scherzinger for her telephone number during his live X-Factor audition
Brad joked that Freddie, 40, (pictured with his wife Rachael) who has been with the brand for six years, has nothing to fear from his younger rival
Of Freddie (with Jamie Redknapp), Brad joked: ‘Freddie – he’s about seven foot tall isn’t he? I think there are plenty of clothes to go round for both of us – I mean I am never going to fit into his outfits. I look forward to meeting him and I am just delighted to be working with Jacamo.’
‘A mate told me I was on some betting sites with a chance of a Christmas number one, which was amazing – apparently I was higher than Rihanna – which was funny.
‘We are just putting the finishing touches to the tracks and then one will be released in a few days on all the digital music platforms and the other will come out in January.’
In the meantime Brad is continuing to fit his music around modelling, which he has been doing since he was 18 after he won a contract in a competition run by a Manchester radio station.
‘They put all the photos up online of everyone who entered and the public voted for the winner, so it was a great start for me,’ said Brad who admits he is delighted to be following in the footsteps of Jacamo Brand Ambassador Flintoff.
Brad has seen first-hand how intense the spot light can be from his relationship with Michelle, who starred in Coronation Street when they were together. They split in 2010 and she went on to marry former Towie star Mark Wright.
‘I never minded when people, especially young guys wanted to come up and chat to Michelle because it was part of her job. I am not a jealous guy – it’s just not in me.
‘We were quite young when we got together. She has gone on to great things and good luck to her she is a lovely girl and we are still friends. Anything she does people are always going to be interested in and focus on, but she has a good family and has been well brought up and that is what helps you cope. I have got a great family behind me, so that side of being in the public eye doesn’t faze me.’
Recalling his X-Factor audition, Brad confessed little planning went in to his first meeting with the judges. he said: ‘I woke up at 10am – I had been out the night before so was feeling a bit rough, but I thought I might as well go for it. By 1pm I was at the venue and by 2pm I was in there singing. I was a bit cheeky as I jumped the queue. I said I had lost my place nipping to the toilet so they let me in and I ended up in front of a lot of people, but if I had waited for hours I would have lost my nerve!’
He displayed more cheeky nerve towards judge Nicole: ‘There was a bit of flirting going on with me and Nicole. She is gorgeous and so I did ask her for a date. I didn’t get her number, but she was great. I thought she was single so I might as well give it a go.’
Brad has seen first-hand how intense the spot light can be from his relationship with Michelle, who starred in Coronation Street when they were together
There were rumours that Brad and fellow contestant Lydia Calvin were an ‘item’ during the early X-Factor rounds – but the model says they are just friends and he is happily single
Brad dated former Corrie star Michelle Keegan, 30, ho went on to marry former Towie star Mark Wright
Romace: Of his time with Our Girl star Keegan, Brad said: ‘I never minded when people, especially young guys wanted to come up and chat to Michelle because it was part of her job. I am not a jealous guy – it’s just not in me.’
There were rumours that he and fellow contestant Lydia Calvin were an ‘item’ during the early X-Factor rounds.
‘Me and Lydia got on really well she was a great friend in X-Factor and it’s great to have that because you don’t know anyone else in there when you are all thrown together, but I think she has a new boyfriend and I am happily single.
‘I am not looking for anyone at the moment, but if someone special came along you never know.’
Brad added that his experience of performing live at Wembley in front of 5000 people was the most nerve-racking experience on X-Factor, but also left him wanting to do more in the music world.
‘That was when all your family and friends could come and see you so it was harder in a way but also an incredible feeling – I would love to do something like that again. I wasn’t surprised that Rak Su won the show as I heard their first audition and thought how good they were.’
Brad will be spending Christmas is Salford with his family but admits he will be doing plenty of partying.
‘Christmas day evening I always go to my best mates where we have a great house party and on Boxing Day we will be going out to do it all again at a new club called History in Manchester.’
No doubt he and his fans will also be keeping a sharp eye on the Christmas charts.